Hi GDBman, and welcome
I'm a grandpa also and would be glad to help you. If you haven't
yet, grab a copy of the "Official Community Guide" here..
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=170978&b=21 It has a wealth of info, and also a copy of the latest
"Syntax" list here for scripts/scripting...
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=180924&b=23
In the syntax list page #157 are the "Internal Variables" One
listed is "$PL=Player’s lives" so with that I can set the player lives (increase or decrease) using a timer. Here is a quick script,
;Artificial Intelligence Script
;Header
desc = Player lose life after set time
;Triggers
:state=0:state=1
:state=1:dimvar=$PL,state=2
:state=2:etimerstart,state=3
:state=3,etimergreater=60000:state=4
:state=4:decvar=$PL 1,state=0
;End of Script
Have not tested, but should work. Copy this script and attach to
an entity or trigger anywhere in your level. Timer is set to one minute. Timers are in milli-seconds,hence 60,000 (60 sec's). After one min. player loses one life (decvar=$PL 1). Change the timer to suite your needs. Look over the syntax list for more info.
Hope this helps.
best
Edit:tested and works. I attached to a triggerzone and set my timer to 10sec's(10000). Every 10sec's player loses 1 life.
You know you're a bad gamer when you're able to run out of infinite lives.